The 46th Harrogate International Festival is under way, under the title of the Harrogate Summer Festival.

The festival opened last night with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra’s concert at the Royal Hall, and the first weekend diary kicks off with the Escher Quartet in the Wesley Chapel at 1pm today, followed by the Pepa Molina Flamenco Dance Company at Harrogate Theatre at 8pm tonight.

The Festival Big Screen will be set up on Montpellier Stray tomorrow and Sunday to show an array of features, family-friendly and art-house films, as well as showcasing talented young film-makers from the region.

Award-winning authors Sadie Jones and Douglas Kennedy discuss their work tomorrow at 7.30pm at the Wesley Chapel, and the weekend is completed by South African composer and pianist Abdullah Ibrahim’s 8pm concert with his band Ekaya at the Royal Hall on Sunday at 8pm.

Further big names taking part in the festival include scientist Lord Robert Winston on Thursday; the BBC Big Band next Friday; the Black Dyke Band next Sunday; cellist Steven Isserlis on July 14; singer Paloma Faith on July 14; author Kate Atkinson, July 15; saxophonist Soweto Kinch, above, July 14, 15 and 31; pianist Andras Schiff, July 17; former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell, July 20; Melvyn Bragg, July 25; the Brodsky Quartet, July 30; and Sir Micahel Parkinson presenting jazz singer Clare Teal, July 30.

Box office: 01423 502116 or harrogate-festival.org.uk